Pubdate: Sat, 10 Feb 2018
Source: National Post (Canada)
Copyright: 2018 Canwest Publishing Inc.
Contact: http://drugsense.org/url/wEtbT4yU
Website: http://www.nationalpost.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/286
Author: David Pugliese
Page: 11

GRASS GOGGLES FOR BRASS

Forces try out 'marijuana simulation kits'

The Canadian Forces is buying kits that will let its leaders
experience what it's like to be stoned on marijuana.

The "marijuana simulation kits" will include "marijuana impairment
goggles," among other i tems. The Canadian Forces wants to acquire 26
of the kits by April 30 or sooner if possible.

"The purpose of the Marijuana Simulation Kits is to raise awareness of
marijuana impairment, reduce risk of marijuana impairment, and promote
healthy lifestyles within the Canadian Armed Forces," companies who
want to bid on the contract were told. "The marijuana impairment
goggles, which is one of the several items included in the Marijuana
Simulation Kit, allows users to experience first-hand, the deficits
marijuana creates on the body."

Department of National Defence spokesman Dan Le Bouthillier said
Friday that the kits will be used in the Military Personnel Command's
supervisor training course. "This will help ensure that CAF members in
leadership positions will be able to identify signs of, assist in
detecting and provide guidance regarding, prohibited drug use," he
said.

The value of the contract will only be known once bids are received,
evaluated and a contract is awarded, but it is estimated at up to $
170,000 over five years.

The Liberal government intends to make the use of recreational
marijuana legal by the summer. CBC reported this week that a
Statistics Canada survey found Canadians pay an average of less than
$7 a gram for pot.

The kits may also be used at National Defence health fairs, community
events, kiosks or other events to educate other military members,
families and the public about the i mpact of marijuana on cognitive
functioning, Le Bouthillier said.

A number of firms make such devices. In 2015, Innocorp Ltd. in the U.
S. unveiled green-tinted goggles that simulate "the distorted
processing of visual information, loss of motor co-ordination, and
slowed decisionmaking and reaction time resulting from recreational
marijuana use."

Some police departments in the U. S. already use marijuana impairment
kits for training.

Participants wearing the goggles will experience the simulated effects
resulting from recreational marijuana use, such as distorted
processing of visual information, slower decision-making and loss of
motor co-ordination, Le Bouthillier said.

The training could include exercises such as ball tossing, simulated
driving and other means of demonstrating the effect on reaction time.

Le Bouthiller said the military currently uses alcohol impairment
goggles in similar courses for military leaders.
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MAP posted-by: Matt